bookbashuk Chapter 88 The Phoenix Clan Returns
Chapter 88 The Phoenix Clan Returns
Chapter 89 The Phoenix Clan Returns
After Daoist Duobao left, Xuanyao did not immediately set off south.
Dongkunlun is one of the ancestral veins of the primordial world, where the spiritual energy of heaven and earth converges, and the mountains and rivers naturally possess a pure and dignified Daoist charm.
Having arrived at this place, Xuan Yao naturally did not rush back and forth. Over the next few hundred years, he traveled leisurely around the outskirts of Dongkunlun.
Wherever he encountered undulating mountains or confluences of waterways, he would linger for several days. If his perception was particularly profound, he would even build a hut and sit in quiet contemplation, carefully observing the flow of the local climate, terrain, and the vital energy of the living beings.
It should be known that the beauty of West Kunlun lies in its tranquility, like a pool of jade water, exuding gentle grace and the vitality of creation.
But East Kunlun is different.
The mountains here are rugged and the earth's veins are powerful. Every mountain and every stone has the authentic Taoist charm left over from the creation of the world.
The rising spiritual energy did not appear feminine, but rather possessed a majestic and masculine quality.
Yin and Yang, softness and hardness.
Although the two Kunlun Taoist traditions share the same ancestral lineage, each possesses its own profound mysteries.
For Xuan Yao, this can serve as a mutual verification, complementing his understanding of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth.
Over the past few centuries, Xuan Yao has also noticed with his Purple Mansion Eye that cultivators from the Purple Mansion Continent frequently appear on the outskirts of East Kunlun.
These people, whether in small groups or traveling alone, all appeared hurried and their magical powers were surging beneath the surface.
They were clearly searching for the previously missing Green-Bearded Taoist and the One-Armed Old Woman, among others.
Xuan Yao has always been cautious in his actions.
He wouldn't pay much attention to ordinary disciples of Zifu Continent.
However, if he encounters someone who is alone and burdened with heavy karma, he will not hold back.
Once the Flying Golden Sword is drawn, its golden light sweeps across the sky, instantly severing any chance of survival.
If the opponent's cultivation level is slightly higher, he will activate the Heavenly Gang Fiend Banner to suppress them with the Fiend Array, cleanly and neatly erasing any traces.
For him, these things were merely incidental trials on his path of spiritual cultivation.
He neither deliberately pursued nor showed any pity.
Several hundred years passed, and the karmic connection between the mountains and rivers gradually faded. Xuan Yao's understanding of the Three Powers of Heaven, Earth, and Man finally reached a state of perfection.
Those thirty-six Zhou Tian Sha Banners, which he had refined over many years, were now resonating with the Golden Immortal Dao Fruit in the unseen realm.
The Heavenly Gang Fiend Formation was now operating smoothly and without any clumsiness.
Xuan Yao knew in his heart that the time for him to leave had come.
With a flick of his long sleeves, he summoned Lingxiao, who was breathing in spiritual energy on the cloud-covered cliff.
Lingxiao let out a clear cry and instantly transformed into a large, dark blue-green roc. With its wings spread, wind and thunder rose, and the clouds were shaken and churned.
Xuan Yao stepped onto the back of the roc.
The old black dragon on his wrist was now shrunk into a dark blue jade ring, obediently coiled up, not daring to make a sound.
"Let's go."
Xuan Yao gave the order in a calm voice.
With a flap of its wings, Lingxiao soared into the sky, riding the wind and thunder.
Xuan Yao stood on the back of the roc, looking back at Dongkunlun one last time.
The mountains stood majestically, shrouded in purple mist, and the sounds of Taoist chants echoed among the clouds.
A moment later, he turned around and, without further hesitation, headed straight for the immortal volcano in the southern part of the prehistoric world.
This trip to East Kunlun yielded far more results than expected.
The Nine-Colored Spirit Pearl, a wood-elemental spiritual object, has been acquired. Furthermore, a friendship has been formed with Daoist Duobao, and a definite clue has been obtained regarding the top-grade earth-elemental spiritual object, the Merit Soil.
The next crucial step is to leverage external resources to break through the impasse.
In the blink of an eye, decades of trials and tribulations have passed.
The roc that Lingxiao transformed into traveled through the fierce winds of the nine heavens at an extremely fast speed.
As they traveled south, the cool spiritual energy in the void gradually thinned out. Accompanying them was a scorching and heavy fire elemental energy.
The earth gradually changed color.
The mountains are as red as iron, and heat waves rise from the valleys.
Huge fissures stretched across the wasteland, with dark red magma flowing through them like rivers of fire, ceaselessly day and night.
Xuan Yao rode the roc, passing through layers of fiery clouds and miasma, and in the distance he could see a silhouette of crimson and gold intertwined at the edge of the world.
That is the immortal volcano.
The entire sacred mountain soars into the clouds, resembling a fiery phoenix spreading its wings as if about to take flight.
Fire veins crisscross the mountainside, crimson clouds soar into the sky, and the faint cry of a phoenix echoes in the void, radiating the inexhaustible vitality of primordial fire.
Xuan Yao landed on the clouds at the edge of the fire domain, without rashly forcing his way in.
He took out the token given to him by the Azure Phoenix Ancestor from his sleeve and pointed it with his finger.
The talisman shimmered with azure light, transforming into a phantom of a blue phoenix that flapped its wings and swept across the sky before disappearing into the fiery clouds.
Before long, the crimson fiery clouds in front slowly parted to the sides.
Several phoenix clan guards, clad in crimson robes, came out to greet them.
The leader recognized Xuan Yao and, seeing that he was a top student of Xikunlun, showed him great respect. He immediately led the way and invited him into a side hall outside the Wutong Temple.
The Azure Phoenix Ancestor then received Xuan Yao in a side hall.
This ancient and holy being, of the Great Luo Golden Immortal level, still wore a blue robe and exuded an air of elegance.
The firelight in the hall illuminated her, but it did not appear scorching; instead, it gave her a layer of clear, ethereal glow.
However, when her phoenix eyes narrowed slightly and her gaze fell on Xuan Yao, a hint of surprise flashed deep in her eyes.
With her discerning eye, she naturally noticed the changes in Xuan Yao at a glance.
At this moment, Xuan Yao's aura was perfectly harmonious, and the golden Dao wheel behind his head was faintly visible.
His cultivation had reached the late stage of Golden Immortal perfection, his foundation was solid and stable, like a mountain pressing down on the ground, without the slightest trace of superficiality.
But what truly moved Ancestor Qingbian was not just his progress in cultivation level.
It was the Southern Bright Fire Seal within Xuan Yao's body.
When she planted this seal years ago, it was merely a spark of the Southern Ming Ancestral Fire, used to protect Xuan Yao and also to forge a good relationship with the Phoenix Clan.
But now, that spark is completely different.
Within the Xuan Yao Dantian Qi Sea, the crimson Nanming Li Fire, the pale blue Ren Water Qi, and the shimmering Fude Qing Light intermingled with each other.
The three were not originally from the same source, but within his Dao foundation, they transformed into the Dharma form of a guardian deity of Yin and Yang, water and fire.
The divine general held a long spear, his body was covered with water and fire patterns, and the Dao wheel behind his head slowly rotated.
Water and fire complement each other, purity and turbidity give rise to a sense of tranquility.
The Azure Phoenix Ancestor saw it clearly and couldn't help but murmur in praise, "Wonderful, truly incredible."
"Young friend, you have cultivated the Dao of Fortune and Profound Evil with the body of the Black Tiger, yet you have been able to refine the Southern Bright Ancestral Fire of my Phoenix Clan to such a level, making it completely integrated with your own Great Dao, achieving harmony between water and fire."
"Such good fortune is rare even in the countless eras of my Phoenix Clan."
She looked at Xuan Yao, and her gaze unconsciously changed.
The initial appreciation that elders held for a promising junior gradually faded, transforming into a profound respect for someone who truly had the potential to attain the Great Luo realm.
In the primordial world, cultivation is the foundation, and potential is the essence.
Only those who can truly see the road ahead deserve to be treated as equals.
After exchanging pleasantries, Xuan Yao's expression turned serious. He took out the ancient jade slip given to him by Daoist Duobao from his sleeve and presented it with both hands.
"Ancestor, I have come here with a request."
The Azure Phoenix Ancestor took the jade slip but did not speak immediately, only gesturing for him to continue.
Xuan Yao said, "I am now at the peak of the Golden Immortal realm and wish to condense the Taiyi Five Qi within my chest. I am still lacking a top-tier earth-elemental treasure."
"This jade slip contains a clue to an ancient cave. The cave contains a fertile soil that can nourish merit, which is exactly what this humble Taoist needs."
"However, within that ancient cave dwells a remnant of an ancient ferocious beast of the Great Luo level. Its nature is savage and barbaric, which I, in my current state, cannot contend with."
"Therefore, I have shamelessly come here to earnestly request the Ancestor to come out of the mountains and help suppress that ferocious beast, so that I may obtain the merit soil."
Upon hearing this, the Azure Phoenix Ancestor probed the jade slip with his divine sense.
After a moment, her originally dignified and peaceful expression became more solemn.
"The remnants of the Great Calamity of Ferocious Beasts —"
She murmured a sentence, a hint of reminiscence and a touch of coldness flashing in her phoenix eyes.
For many later beings in the primordial world, the ancient ferocious beasts were merely legendary calamities, ominous names to be avoided at all costs.
However, for an ancient and sacred person like the Azure Phoenix Ancestor who has walked through the years of blood and fire, the word "fierce beast" is not unfamiliar.
During the great calamity of the past, countless ancestors of the Phoenix Clan perished under the claws of those ferocious beasts who only knew destruction.
After a moment's thought, the Azure Phoenix Ancestor nodded in agreement.
"I agree to this matter."
She looked at Xuan Yao, her tone frank.
"Now, due to the karma of the past, my Phoenix Clan has no choice but to guard the Undying Volcano, and our fortune is no longer what it once was."
"Young friend Xuan Yao is a distinguished disciple of Xi Kunlun, possessing both superior character and talent. He will surely achieve great things in his future travels throughout the prehistoric world."
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"Our Phoenix Clan is helping you today to build more goodwill within the clan and to leave ourselves a way out."
Her words were straightforward, but it was precisely because of this straightforwardness that they showed her sincerity.
Upon hearing this, Xuan Yao immediately bowed in respect.
"I will remember your noble virtues, Ancestor. If I can obtain the Merit Soil this time and achieve the Taiyi stage, I will certainly not refuse any task the Phoenix Clan may ask of me in the future."
The Azure Phoenix Ancestor nodded slightly and summoned a Phoenix Clan maid from the side hall.
"Take my young friend Xuanyao to a quiet room beside the Wutong Forest for a few days to rest and properly regulate his Qi."
"Once I am ready, I will set off with you, young friend, to meet that ancient and ferocious beast."
Xuan Yao bowed again.
Afterwards, he left the side hall with the maid and headed deep into the paulownia grove.
The sacred trees in the forest reach for the sky, their red leaves like fire, and tiny wisps of light fall from their branches, like starlight.
The distant roar of the immortal volcano's fiery veins could be faintly heard, but the tranquility and spiritual energy within the parasol tree forest tempered its intensity, transforming it into a wonderful place for calming the mind and stabilizing the spirit.
Xuan Yao stopped in front of the quiet room and glanced back into the depths of the fiery clouds.
Everything is ready for this trip.
Once the Azure Phoenix Ancestor emerges from the mountain, we can head to that ancient cave to obtain the Merit-Generating Soil.